Investing in gold is smart and can balance out your portfolio. Keep reading to learn more about gold is a smart investment option.Get multiple estimates for your tangible gold pieces if you are looking to sell them. There are a large number of venues for selling your gold, and they all use different metrics to decide on price. Getting multiple offers allows you make sure that you receive a fair price.You might have avoided gold because of the price, and chose instead to buy gold-filled or gold-plated pieces instead. You can still buy gold jewelry without spending a ton at a jewelry store. You can usually find more affordable gold jewelry online, or if you visit pawnshops.Gold prices change all of the time, so you must stay apprised on the values of your items. If you have made the call to sell any gold you have, weigh and value pieces that have different karat values separately. Don’t sell jewelry that’s worth than straight melt value.Research a gold buyers and compare them to obtain the best price for your gold.If you’re thinking of supplementing your retirement funds with the help of gold investing, it’s important to understand what type of gold to invest in. It has to be given the stamp of approval from the IRS. The gold has to be either coins or bars, of the 24 karat variety. Bars typically are more valuable than coins are.If you plan to mail your gold jewelry to a firm, you need to be sure you do your research first. Find out when you will receive your payment, and make sure you insure your package.Be certain to review the sales contract says.You need to know what you’re getting into if selling through a mail service. This lets you understand what you will have to pay in fees are taken off the top.Be cautious with the gold market. There are always a few bad apples in every market, and players in the gold market are no exception. They want to take your money and take advantage of you. Research gold and gold companies before trading.Gold is usually a safe investment but volatile investment. If you cannot handle sharp price swings, gold investing is probably not for you. Even if this does not bother you, take steps to limit your risk. Only a very small portion of your portfolio should be invested in gold. A prudent limit is five percent.Get to know any dealer before buying gold.If the dealer does have complaints filed against them, consider using a different dealer.When attempting to sell your gold, you want to do your research into the market price. Try to compare what similar sized pieces are selling for. In this way, you will have a good idea of how to price your gold. Just make sure to go a little higher than what you actually want so that there is wiggle room for negotiation.The purity of golds is measured in karats. The higher they are, the more the gold is worth. You should not just go by the karat stamp. You won’t pay too much for poor quality if you know the methods to testing gold purity.This is crucial when you are looking into a mail-away type service with a buyer in another state or community.A quick and inexpensive way to test a piece of gold or precious metal to see if it is real, is by using a magnet. Precious metals do not respond to magnets. The clasp may be solid gold, but it’s possible that the piece is almost entirely gold-plated. Using a magnet is an excellent way to find this out.A good way to get good value out of gold is to see if any relatives have broken jewelry. If you use an accurate scale that is designed for jewelry, you can make a profit.If you wish to sell gold online, double check the prices before moving forward. It may be simpler to mail it in, but these outlets do not typically pay as well.Make sure you read fine print in any sales contract to a full understanding. Read any fine print before you decide to offer your gold to a mail-in buyer. In this way you can determine what percentage of your profits will go toward fees and commissions.

Make sure you understand the buyback policy of a seller. Some buyers charge a fee to sell your gold while others do not. Consider if sending the logistics of having to send bulky gold bars or coins to a local place is more logical. It is best to take the gold as soon as you purchase yourself to ensure its safety.Don’t get into a complicated situation if you’re just starting out investing. Avoid using gold futures and other similar investments.Futures are complex and more complex. It’s possible to burn through a great deal of money without turning a profit if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Avoid dabbling in intricate investments such as these until you have become a seasoned investor to sort it out.Frequently, earring backs are made of solid gold. This is the case even when the earring is not made of pure gold. The bands of rings may be as well, even if the rest is an alloy. Those odd pieces should be sold as one lot, as they weigh so little on their own. You may be able to sell them for more as a bunch.You should guard against buying too much at once. Gold does not bring income to the table like stocks can. The price tends to fluctuate a lot in the gold is also volatile. It only goes up in value during times when equities lose value. You shouldn’t invest more than five percent of your portfolio in gold.Be sure you are getting what it is you think you are purchasing. Some coins have just been gold plated while others will be difficult for you to sell.There are many options available to individuals looking to purchase gold as an investment. You can invest in gold mining stocks or purchase shares in an exchange traded fund or mutual fund that focuses on gold. Before you buy bars and coins, you must also consider how much it will cost to store your gold.Jewelry with a higher karats are worth more. Make sure you go to sell.A good website to find the true value of gold is www.goldprice.org.Sort your gold by karats into groups if your are planning on selling it. Since a piece’s value can vary considerably based on its karat value, weighing and selling it all in one batch may lead to you missing out on some potential profits. The money you receive in return depends largely on how much each karat value is.Always have a photographic record of any gold pieces you want to sell before letting the buyer look at the pieces. Also talk about their reimbursement policy should the jewelry suddenly go missing. Make sure that you have this in writing for protection.Think about how the gold was made when purchasing it. Gold that was created by a machine is lower in value than handcrafted jewelry. This will not affect the melt value, but it is a significant consideration if you plan to keep a piece of gold jewelry intact.Learn how to verify the quality of gold pieces. Karats are used to measure gold purity. The higher they are, the more expensive and pure it is per each ounce. Although a lot of gold jewelry has a karat stamp, you should verify its accuracy. Understanding how you can test gold’s purity will help ensure you never overpay.Take care when buying gold if you are thinking it is going to increase in value. For instance, you may find a gold coin that has historical or numismatic value and that means you need to know what those things add to the value. Many people sell coins claiming they will appreciate in value, but that’s not always the case.You should understand how pure gold prior to purchasing it. 22 karats represents 92 percent pure. The purity goes down in increments until it reaches nine karats, meaning that this gold is 38% and mixed with a different metal.Gather information about any gold dealer you are considering selling to. This is critical when a mail away service is being used for your gold purchase or sale. Make sure the gold buyer you select is properly registered with your local Better Business Bureau and ask if any complaints were filed against them.Be aware of the marketplace. Gold prices fluctuate, so find out where the market is headed before you sell. Try to sell only on an up-day so that you might make a profit.Now, you can see where gold fits into your portfolio. This strategy can help fill in the gaps between your savings and stocks. Use gold today to ensure your wealth.Before you buy any gold online, make sure you are getting the best price first. Frequently, a local dealer who has a physical presence will provide a better deal. It may be handy to mail your gold, but it could cost you a great deal of money.